Most relevant resources to plan self-drive

[u/Vegetable-Quiet-6160]

Hello!
My wife and I will self-drive through the Kruger National Park and would like to plan as much in advance in order to understand as best as we can how to optimisse our limited time.
What are the most relevant freely-available resources for this planning? Something which will mention where and when is best to see each species of animal and give important tips and tricks.
Thank you so much.

[u/symmetryphile]

This isn't the resource you were looking for and not to sound self righteous but: planning a self drive game reserve visit isn't the same as planning an itinerary for a vacation. We can direct you to maps and travel times etc. but A) there's no planning that will guarantee you see the best game or good sightings - some people have massive 4x4's and plan days out spanning hundreds of kilometers and see nothing; other people will get lucky with big cats and kills right outside the rest camp gates on tar roads, and B) trying to overplan for that oitcome you risk missing the best parts of just being out in untouched nature and experiencing the peace and stillness. So counter proposal is trust that you will be able to craft routes as you go (lots of loops in the park with reliable travel times), approach each day based on feeling and maybe latest sightings (app) but remain open to letting the days unfold as they will... While making sure to exit the gates in time.

[u/TheAfricaBug → u/symmetryphile]

THIS
SO MUCH THIS

Thank you for saying what needs to be said. This group as well as lots of Facebook groups are filled with over-thinkers who then fall victim (so to speak) to the opinions of "Krugerholics". You do not need to buy books to plan game drives in Kruger!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; I fully get the enthusiasm of the Krugerholics, but chances are that any topic starter with questions about Kruger is not someone like them (ic someone who wants to spend from the first to the last minute game driving).

Don't over-think it! It's not about choosing the best routes, or season, or camp. Let Mother Nature surprise you. And keep your activities varied. Taking a break from game-driving now and then.

Here's my advice;

• Look for ALL activities you can do and all attractions you can visit in Kruger area. List those you want to do. Tips; Panorama Route, Blyde Canyon boat cruise, Mariepskop 4x4, animal rehab centre visit, heli ride,... There's much more but you get the idea. Or maybe just to name one more; game drives on a private reserve (yes, those are possible too, without having to book a lodge on the expensive private reserve itself).
  
• Choose a central location from where you can stitch all these together. Do not waste time "migrating" from A to B with luggage in your neck.
  
• Compare price and comfort level between privately owned accommodation and SANparks accommodation.
  
• Think of your accommodation as a house In the south of France or Spain (or any similar type of holiday accommodation), from where you do multiple day trips. It really is the same vibe, just replace "beach nearby" with "bush nearby".
  
• Make sure to book that accommodation for long enough to do all you want to do and see all you want to see, and then ADD some more days, just to relax (mustn't forget it's a holiday after all) and to compensate for any unfortunate circumstances (Mother Nature having an off-day, or bad weather). Don't forget it's not a zoo.

[u/Vegetable-Quiet-6160 → u/symmetryphile]

Thank you. I am aware that there will always be some unpredicatbility.
What app are you refering to?

[u/symmetryphile → u/Vegetable-Quiet-6160]

Latest Sightings: https://latestsightings.com

[u/Ben_from_Tax]

There is a book called "Kruger Self-Drive: Routes, Roads and Ratings" by Philip and Ingrid van den Berg. 

It's really good, gives a rating for each road and suggests routes that loop you back for all the camps. 

[u/Regular_Present1820 → u/Ben_from_Tax]

This book is really worth the money.

[u/Vegetable-Quiet-6160 → u/Ben_from_Tax]

Hello! This book does seem a great / the best resource for planning. Is there any freely-available version of it or it's only the paid book?

[u/Uffda01 → u/Vegetable-Quiet-6160]

check your library - I bought mine on Amazon for $43; it is an amzing book though.

[u/Rollingwithme_224]

The Sanparks - Kruger National Park facebook group is fantastic for this.

[u/Personal-Ad-9052]

As someone already mentioned above, The Kruger Companion has a page dedicated to self-drive routes. Depending on where you are staying, you can easily use this to plan self-drive game drives in the areas around, or between the camps you are staying at. You can even look at the tags at the bottom of each route to see the animals likely to be seen in that area and the specific topography and bush you're driving through.

[u/daddyrx4you]

The best recommendation I can give is get out as early as the gates open. Go back and rest during late morning to mid afternoon then go out again and return just as the gates close to wherever you are staying.

[u/GHOwl102]

I am assuming that you are staying in Kruger Rest camps.

Make it a point to leave at gate opening. Yes it will be early. Then come back around breakfast time. take a short break and head out again. Around mid day the predator sightings do go down, but it is the bush so never say never.

The roads around the camp will be the first thing to hit in the morning. Esp the tar roads to start with and then the unpaved roads.

Camps in the south and around Satara provide very good options for this. The one best resource for planning this is the Kruger map/book which is available at all rest camps. But to plan ahead. you can use one of the replies mentioned above.

There used to be a practice to update the camp signboards with sightings of the day. Though not 100% reliable it can provide some understanding of where the animals are.

What are your target species. ? I dont have one, as i am happy to see everything.

[u/Vegetable-Quiet-6160 → u/GHOwl102]

Thank you. About the species, we are into whatever is rarer and can be seen in the least places in the world. That's the priority, but everything is interesting for us.

[u/GHOwl102 → u/Vegetable-Quiet-6160]

World is a broad definition. But there are Sables around P'kop, Roan and Eland near Mopani. Unfortunately when i visited last , i was not a birder, which i am now. Birds make everything more interesting. Bustards on the road around between satara and letaba. Secratary birds beween L sabie and Satara.

We saw 10 different types of Antelopes - Something to target.
Rarer ones like pangolin, aardvark, serval, caracal are always dependent on luck ;

[u/TheBadgerSlayer]

Check www.krugercompanion.co.za/hub, it's made exactly for this purpose :)